Telstra Premiership - Round 5 vs. Broncos
Saturday, April 1 - 7:35 p.m. AEDT
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
WESTS TIGERS
1. Adam Doueihi
2. Charlie Staines
3. Brent Naden
4. Asu Kepaoa
5. Junior Tupou
6. Brandon Wakeham
7. Luke Brooks
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Apisai Koroisau (c)
10. David Klemmer
11. Isaiah Papali'i
12. John Bateman
13. Fonua Pole
14. Jake Simpkin
15. Alex Twal
16. Justin Matamua
17. Starford To'a
18. Shawn Blore
19. Joe Ofahengaue
20. Tukimihia Simpkins
21. Daine Laurie
22. Alex Seyfarth
Coach: Tim Sheens
Glad to see Matamua there but there is a lot that is utter bonkers.
Blore 18th, To’a 17. mmmmm, scratches head.
Bench looks very strange.
Can only think that To'a is there as Bateman is under an injury cloud. If he doesn't make it, AJ would move to the back row and To'a to centre.
What’s happened with Blore.
I can cop no changes to the starting side because I expected it but that bench will get us nowhere
Truly bizarre selections. Why on earth drop Shawn Blore?
The comments from Sheenius in the SMH this afternoon make it very very clear that Brooks is in the side no matter what.
Brooks looked frustrated against Melbourne last Friday, but Sheens has been one of his biggest supporters, and said the best decision for the Tigers right now was to persevere with Brooks and Brandon Wakeham in the halves and Adam Doueihi in the No.1.
“I don’t need to defend ‘Brooksy’, he doesn’t need me to defend him, he’s a tough kid, [the criticism] would get to anyone, but every training session he turns up with a smile,” Sheens told the Herald on Tuesday.
“They [Brooks and Wakeham] have got the left- and right-footed kicking game, they play well on the left and right edge of the ruck, and with Adam at No.1, that allows him to pick his run, be it left or right. There’s no better [fullback] at the club.
“We need to make it work, and the only way to make it work is to give them time.”
By making these types of bold declarations he can't go back on his word and make changes.
He could have said
"im prepared to give the halves more time together before I make any changes." That way he leaves himself open to the possibility of doing so later.
In terms of sad, sorry team selections this is worse than when John Morris played halfback or when JT moved Kyle Lovett to the centres and Dean Whare ran past him for a hat-trick in 30 mins.
It's worse because our forwards and outside backs are performing well. We are winning the field position battle most weeks. We'd win games with any other halves combo IMO. Brooks incomptence is dragging moral to an all time low.
Bench looks very strange.
Can only think that To'a is there as Bateman is under an injury cloud. If he doesn't make it, AJ would move to the back row and To'a to centre.
If Bateman does not play we could run Blore in the second row also but I take your point.
Bench looks very strange.
Can only think that To'a is there as Bateman is under an injury cloud. If he doesn't make it, AJ would move to the back row and To'a to centre.
If Bateman does not play we could run Blore in the second row also but I take your point.
Yep don't think Blore has done much wrong. Just trying to make sense out of a strange situation.
@the-last-ronin AJ to second row, Bateman out I am guessing
I’d rather slot Blore straight in and leave AJ in the centres.
“... with Adam at No.1, that allows him to pick his run, be it left or right. There’s no better [fullback] at the club.
That doesn't look good for Laurie. Surely Staines is no.2 in the pecking order, then Bula in round 10 comes into contention. His only way back would be through injury or icing a utility role off the bench, but last weeks game shows he isn't well suited to that. It will be interesting to see how he performs in NSW Cup...
In terms of sad, sorry team selections this is worse than when John Morris played halfback or when JT moved Kyle Lovett to the centres and Dean Whare ran past him for a hat-trick in 30 mins.
Mate, why did you have to dig up the Kyle Lovett example? I remember that game/decision and it still hurts to think about. It makes me want to go and make a list of the 5 worst positional selections in WT history. Maybe top 10, otherwise it would just be a list filled with Daniel Fitzhenry. A project for the off season.
